HIGHNESS

A title first attributed to bishops; afterwards to European kings in general (succeeded by Majesty in the sixteenth century), afterwards to sovereign princes and their descendants. The title of "Royal Highne " was first a umed by the Duke of Orleans, brother of Louis XIII., in 1G31; and it is now conferred on all royal princes and prince es, whether in the direct line of succe ion or not. The elector of He e Ca cl and the grand dukes of Germany have also the title of royal highne . The children of the emperors of Ru ia and Austria, and their descendants, are styled imperial highne ; and all other princes not in eluded in the above category bear the title serene highne , which is a literal translation of the term Durchlaucht, by which they are addre ed in Germany. [s. 574]